I took Katie to the vet for her annual checkup and vaccinations, and she got a clean bill of health. Well, as much as a nearly 14 year old dog can have, that is. She has lost 4 pounds since her last checkup, but the vet says that is normal for dogs as they age to lose weight, just like people do. It's also normal for them to start losing bladder control. So Katie's leaking when she naps is just part of the aging process. The vet said that if it gets to be frequent, they have medication that helps. Since it just once in a while for now, we are going to wait on that.
Katie is terrified of thunderstorms, and the older she gets, the worse she gets. I asked the vet about tranquilizers, and she said I could give Katie benadryl. It's what she gives her own dogs, and it puts them right to sleep. I said that I didn't even know you could give a dog benadryl, and the vet said "Oh yes. It's what we use to treat dogs with allergies. It works just as well as a tranquilizer, and is a lot safer and has fewer side effects." So, next storm, benadryl it is. Maybe it'll keep her from climbing me.
So that was Katie's annual checkup. She is doing great for a dog her age. Hopefully, we'll have her for a few more years.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Music Monday
A couple of weeks ago, Steve posted his all time favorite love song, and asked two questions, What is yours and what does it remind you of. It took a lot of thinking, because there are so many good songs out there, but I finally settled on this one: Everything I do, by Bryan Adams.
It beat out some tough competition, including Faithfully, Shameless, and even a bit of Bob Seger. But it has got to be my all time favorite love song.
What does it remind me of? The movie for one. Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. Now, one doesn't normally think of that movie is particularly romantic one, but to me it is. I think it is much more romantic than silly movies like oh, say 50 First Dates, or The Wedding Date. Here is Robin, doing what is necessary to protect his country, his freedom, and the woman he loves, even if it costs him his life. Now THAT is truly romantic.
It beat out some tough competition, including Faithfully, Shameless, and even a bit of Bob Seger. But it has got to be my all time favorite love song.
What does it remind me of? The movie for one. Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. Now, one doesn't normally think of that movie is particularly romantic one, but to me it is. I think it is much more romantic than silly movies like oh, say 50 First Dates, or The Wedding Date. Here is Robin, doing what is necessary to protect his country, his freedom, and the woman he loves, even if it costs him his life. Now THAT is truly romantic.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Supervisors
There are three supervisors where I work. They all cover different departments within the plant. I have worked for all of them at one time or another. They are all very different.
Carlo is very laid back. Nothing ever seems to faze him. He never raises his voice, never seems flustered. Carlo's claim to fame--at least in my eyes-- is that he always smells good. Always. I don't know what he wears, but it smells soo good. I used to follow around, just so I could sniff him.
Then there is Calvin. He is just the opposite of Carlo. Calvin is the worrywart. He walks around very fast, with his head down, talking to himself. At times, I would swear you can almost see him shaking from nervousness.
Finally, we have Ronnie. Ronnie is the prankster of the group. He is always clowning about something. Back a few years ago, the plant was setting up a new testing system, and I was running it. Since it was new, Ronnie had asked me to call him every time a unit failed the test. Well, I was testing a unit, and it failed. I looked up into the supervisor's office and saw Ronnie sitting there at his desk. I walked back to the phone to call him.
"Can you hold that unit for a while? I'm all the way over [on the other side of the plant]." Ronnie told me. I agreed to do that, and when I turned around to hang up the phone, Ronnie was standing right behind me! That's the kind of thing you can expect from him.
While it may not always be pleasant at work, I must say, it is always interesting.
Carlo is very laid back. Nothing ever seems to faze him. He never raises his voice, never seems flustered. Carlo's claim to fame--at least in my eyes-- is that he always smells good. Always. I don't know what he wears, but it smells soo good. I used to follow around, just so I could sniff him.
Then there is Calvin. He is just the opposite of Carlo. Calvin is the worrywart. He walks around very fast, with his head down, talking to himself. At times, I would swear you can almost see him shaking from nervousness.
Finally, we have Ronnie. Ronnie is the prankster of the group. He is always clowning about something. Back a few years ago, the plant was setting up a new testing system, and I was running it. Since it was new, Ronnie had asked me to call him every time a unit failed the test. Well, I was testing a unit, and it failed. I looked up into the supervisor's office and saw Ronnie sitting there at his desk. I walked back to the phone to call him.
"Can you hold that unit for a while? I'm all the way over [on the other side of the plant]." Ronnie told me. I agreed to do that, and when I turned around to hang up the phone, Ronnie was standing right behind me! That's the kind of thing you can expect from him.
While it may not always be pleasant at work, I must say, it is always interesting.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
It's Getting Harder
It's harder for me to blog here lately. See, I used to write most of my blog posts at work. I ran a machine, and all I had to do was set it up and watch it run. I'd have sometimes as much as 20 to 30 minutes between setups. That was plenty of time to jot down my rough drafts in my little notebook.
Now, I'm back to brazing, which is a much more active job. No more standing there looking. No more idle time to write blog posts. Basically, what that means is that, though I have about a dozen posts rolling around in my head, they don't get written down. Therefore, they don't get posted.
I'm not really sure why I can't just type them directly to the blog, but it doesn't work that way. When I sit down at my computer to enter my ideas, they just don't come.
That's why blogging has been lacking lately. I'll try to do better.
Now, I'm back to brazing, which is a much more active job. No more standing there looking. No more idle time to write blog posts. Basically, what that means is that, though I have about a dozen posts rolling around in my head, they don't get written down. Therefore, they don't get posted.
I'm not really sure why I can't just type them directly to the blog, but it doesn't work that way. When I sit down at my computer to enter my ideas, they just don't come.
That's why blogging has been lacking lately. I'll try to do better.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Hurricane Survival Tips
Gulf Coast Hurricane Season Notes
Hurricane season is starting again.
Any day now, you're going to turn on the TV and see a weather person pointing to some radar blob out in the Gulf of Mexico and making two basic meteorological points:
(1) There is no need to panic.
(2) We could all be killed.
Yes, hurricane season is an exciting time to be on the Gulf Coast. If you're new to the area, you're probably wondering what you need to do to prepare for the possibility that we'll get hit by "the big one.
Based on our experiences, we recommend that you follow this simple three-step hurricane preparedness plan:
STEP 1. Buy enough food and bottled water to last your family for at least three days.
STEP 2. Put these supplies into your car.
STEP 3. Drive to Nebraska and remain there until Halloween .
Unfortunately, statistics show that most people will not follow this sensible plan. Most people will foolishly stay here in the Gulf Coast area.
We'll start with one of the most important hurricane preparedness items:
HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE:
If you own a home, you must have hurricane insurance.
Fortunately, this insurance is cheap and easy to get, as long as your home meets two basic requirements: (1) It is reasonably well-built, and (2) It is located in Nebraska.
Unfortunately, if your home is located in any area that might actually be hit by a hurricane, most insurance companies would prefer not to sell you hurricane insurance, because then they might be required to pay YOU money, and that is certainly not why they got into the insurance business in the first place. So you'll have to scrounge around for an insurance company, which will charge you an annual premium roughly equal to the replacement value of your house. At any moment, this company can drop you like used dental floss.
Since Hurricane George, I have had an estimated 27 different home-insurance companies. This week, I'm covered by the Bob and Big Stan Insurance Company, under a policy which states that, in addition to my premium, Bob and Big Stan are entitled, on demand, to my kidneys.
SHUTTERS:
Your house should have hurricane shutters on all the windows, all the doors, and -- if it's a major hurricane -- all the toilets.
There are several types of shutters, with advantages and disadvantages:
Plywood shutters: The advantage is that, because you make them yourself, they're cheap.
The disadvantage is that, because you make them yourself, they will fall off.
Sheet-metal shutters: The advantage is that these work well, once you get them all up. The disadvantage is that once you get them all up, your hands will be useless bleeding stumps, and it will be December.
Roll-down shutters: The advantages are that they're very easy to use, and will definitely protect your house. The disadvantage is that you will have to sell your house to pay for them.
"Hurricane-proof" windows: These are the newest wrinkle in hurricane protection: They look like ordinary windows, but they can withstand hurricane winds! You can be sure of this, because the salesman says so. He lives in Nebraska.
HURRICANE PROOFING YOUR PROPERTY:
As the hurricane approaches, check your yard for movable objects like barbecue grills, planters, patio furniture, visiting relatives, etc. You should, as a precaution, throw these items into your swimming pool (if you don't have a swimming pool, you should have one built immediately). Otherwise, the hurricane winds will turn these objects into deadly missiles.
EVACUATION ROUTE:
If you live in a low-lying area, you should have an evacuation route planned out. (To determine whether you live in a low-lying area, look at your driver's license; if it says "Louisiana," "Mississippi" or "Florida", you live in a low-lying area.) The purpose of having an evacuation route is to avoid being trapped in your home when a major storm hits. Instead, you will be trapped in a gigantic traffic jam several miles from your home, along with two hundred thousand other evacuees. So, as a bonus, you will not be lonely.
HURRICANE SUPPLIES:
If you don't evacuate, you will need a mess of supplies. Do not buy them now! Long standing tradition requires that you wait until the last possible minute, then go to the supermarket and get into vicious fights with strangers over who gets the last can of SPAM.
In addition to food and water, you will need the following supplies:
23 flashlights
At least $167 worth of batteries that turn out, when the power goes off, to be the wrong size for the flashlights.
Bleach (No, I don't know what the bleach is for. NOBODY knows what the bleach is for, but it's traditional, so GET some!)
A 55-gallon drum of underarm deodorant.
A big knife that you can strap to your leg. (This will be useless in a hurricane, but it looks cool.)
A large quantity of raw chicken, to placate the alligators. (Ask anybody who went through Camille; after the hurricane, there WILL be irate alligators.)
$35,000 in cash or diamonds so that, after the hurricane passes, you can buy a generator from a man with no discernible teeth.
Of course these are just basic precautions. As the hurricane draws near, it is vitally important that you keep abreast of the situation by turning on your television and watching TV reporters in rain slickers stand right next to the ocean and tell you over and over how vitally important it is for everybody to stay away from the ocean.
Good luck, and remember: It's great living in Paradise.....!
Hurricane season is starting again.
Any day now, you're going to turn on the TV and see a weather person pointing to some radar blob out in the Gulf of Mexico and making two basic meteorological points:
(1) There is no need to panic.
(2) We could all be killed.
Yes, hurricane season is an exciting time to be on the Gulf Coast. If you're new to the area, you're probably wondering what you need to do to prepare for the possibility that we'll get hit by "the big one.
Based on our experiences, we recommend that you follow this simple three-step hurricane preparedness plan:
STEP 1. Buy enough food and bottled water to last your family for at least three days.
STEP 2. Put these supplies into your car.
STEP 3. Drive to Nebraska and remain there until Halloween .
Unfortunately, statistics show that most people will not follow this sensible plan. Most people will foolishly stay here in the Gulf Coast area.
We'll start with one of the most important hurricane preparedness items:
HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE:
If you own a home, you must have hurricane insurance.
Fortunately, this insurance is cheap and easy to get, as long as your home meets two basic requirements: (1) It is reasonably well-built, and (2) It is located in Nebraska.
Unfortunately, if your home is located in any area that might actually be hit by a hurricane, most insurance companies would prefer not to sell you hurricane insurance, because then they might be required to pay YOU money, and that is certainly not why they got into the insurance business in the first place. So you'll have to scrounge around for an insurance company, which will charge you an annual premium roughly equal to the replacement value of your house. At any moment, this company can drop you like used dental floss.
Since Hurricane George, I have had an estimated 27 different home-insurance companies. This week, I'm covered by the Bob and Big Stan Insurance Company, under a policy which states that, in addition to my premium, Bob and Big Stan are entitled, on demand, to my kidneys.
SHUTTERS:
Your house should have hurricane shutters on all the windows, all the doors, and -- if it's a major hurricane -- all the toilets.
There are several types of shutters, with advantages and disadvantages:
Plywood shutters: The advantage is that, because you make them yourself, they're cheap.
The disadvantage is that, because you make them yourself, they will fall off.
Sheet-metal shutters: The advantage is that these work well, once you get them all up. The disadvantage is that once you get them all up, your hands will be useless bleeding stumps, and it will be December.
Roll-down shutters: The advantages are that they're very easy to use, and will definitely protect your house. The disadvantage is that you will have to sell your house to pay for them.
"Hurricane-proof" windows: These are the newest wrinkle in hurricane protection: They look like ordinary windows, but they can withstand hurricane winds! You can be sure of this, because the salesman says so. He lives in Nebraska.
HURRICANE PROOFING YOUR PROPERTY:
As the hurricane approaches, check your yard for movable objects like barbecue grills, planters, patio furniture, visiting relatives, etc. You should, as a precaution, throw these items into your swimming pool (if you don't have a swimming pool, you should have one built immediately). Otherwise, the hurricane winds will turn these objects into deadly missiles.
EVACUATION ROUTE:
If you live in a low-lying area, you should have an evacuation route planned out. (To determine whether you live in a low-lying area, look at your driver's license; if it says "Louisiana," "Mississippi" or "Florida", you live in a low-lying area.) The purpose of having an evacuation route is to avoid being trapped in your home when a major storm hits. Instead, you will be trapped in a gigantic traffic jam several miles from your home, along with two hundred thousand other evacuees. So, as a bonus, you will not be lonely.
HURRICANE SUPPLIES:
If you don't evacuate, you will need a mess of supplies. Do not buy them now! Long standing tradition requires that you wait until the last possible minute, then go to the supermarket and get into vicious fights with strangers over who gets the last can of SPAM.
In addition to food and water, you will need the following supplies:
23 flashlights
At least $167 worth of batteries that turn out, when the power goes off, to be the wrong size for the flashlights.
Bleach (No, I don't know what the bleach is for. NOBODY knows what the bleach is for, but it's traditional, so GET some!)
A 55-gallon drum of underarm deodorant.
A big knife that you can strap to your leg. (This will be useless in a hurricane, but it looks cool.)
A large quantity of raw chicken, to placate the alligators. (Ask anybody who went through Camille; after the hurricane, there WILL be irate alligators.)
$35,000 in cash or diamonds so that, after the hurricane passes, you can buy a generator from a man with no discernible teeth.
Of course these are just basic precautions. As the hurricane draws near, it is vitally important that you keep abreast of the situation by turning on your television and watching TV reporters in rain slickers stand right next to the ocean and tell you over and over how vitally important it is for everybody to stay away from the ocean.
Good luck, and remember: It's great living in Paradise.....!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tragic Day
Farah Fawcett and Michael Jackson both died today. And they were both so young. Ms. Fawcett died of cancer. She was 62. Michael Jackson died of a heart attack. He was 50.
I was never a big fan of either of them, but they were icons of my childhood. I remember watching the original Charlie's Angels vividly. One of my 6th grade classmates told me that Farah Fawcett (she was Farah Fawcett-Majors back then--still married to Lee) never combed her hair. She just got up in the mornings and shook her head and every hair fell right into place. I didn't believe my classmate even then. I knew she had to comb her hair out when she washed it.
The Michael Jackson I prefer to remember was the young one. Before he became the creepy pedophile. He once was very handsome, before he began surgically altering his appearance. And at one time, he made some pretty good music. But then he started to get weird. To me, that's kinda when he stopped being Michael Jackson. You could almost say that he died then, in a way. But today, he died for real. So sad, really.
I think I'll go to bed and get this day over.
I was never a big fan of either of them, but they were icons of my childhood. I remember watching the original Charlie's Angels vividly. One of my 6th grade classmates told me that Farah Fawcett (she was Farah Fawcett-Majors back then--still married to Lee) never combed her hair. She just got up in the mornings and shook her head and every hair fell right into place. I didn't believe my classmate even then. I knew she had to comb her hair out when she washed it.
The Michael Jackson I prefer to remember was the young one. Before he became the creepy pedophile. He once was very handsome, before he began surgically altering his appearance. And at one time, he made some pretty good music. But then he started to get weird. To me, that's kinda when he stopped being Michael Jackson. You could almost say that he died then, in a way. But today, he died for real. So sad, really.
I think I'll go to bed and get this day over.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Whiskers and WIPs
Not much knitting done this week. I ripped the shawl back to my most recent lifeline, and have just now gotten back to where I was.
I need to spend less time on Facebook, and more time knitting. And cleaning house. And sleeping.
Squeaky says, "Here I am. Adore me!"
I need to spend less time on Facebook, and more time knitting. And cleaning house. And sleeping. Squeaky says, "Here I am. Adore me!"
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Life
seems to be a bit overwhelming right now. I've really got the blahs. I think it's the heat. It's been in the upper 90's all week, and they're predicting triple digit temps for the weekend. My A/C has been running almost constantly, and I don't let the dogs out but for a few minutes at a time.
I don't even feel that much like knitting. I ripped my shawl back to the most recent lifeline because the stitch counts just weren't coming out right. I've corrected whatever error I had made, because I'm now back to where I was and everything is working fine.
Anyone remember Project 365? I'd started it back in January. I'm still taking photos for it. I've missed a couple of days, some because I just forgot to take a photo. Anyway, I'd been posting them on my other blog, and have gotten way behind. I'm going to try to get caught up. I got a few photos posted today, and will try to get some more uploaded here in the next few days.
Now, just so this post isn't totally worthless, here is one of my favorite photos of all time:
I took this a year or so ago at the Memphis Zoo. I don't know who that guy is taking the picture with his phone. He just happened to be there. I think what I like best about this shot is that it happened totally by chance, and turned out so well. The lighting, the balance, the composition --it's all just right, and with no editing whatsoever. I didn't even crop it.
I don't even feel that much like knitting. I ripped my shawl back to the most recent lifeline because the stitch counts just weren't coming out right. I've corrected whatever error I had made, because I'm now back to where I was and everything is working fine.
Anyone remember Project 365? I'd started it back in January. I'm still taking photos for it. I've missed a couple of days, some because I just forgot to take a photo. Anyway, I'd been posting them on my other blog, and have gotten way behind. I'm going to try to get caught up. I got a few photos posted today, and will try to get some more uploaded here in the next few days.
Now, just so this post isn't totally worthless, here is one of my favorite photos of all time:
I took this a year or so ago at the Memphis Zoo. I don't know who that guy is taking the picture with his phone. He just happened to be there. I think what I like best about this shot is that it happened totally by chance, and turned out so well. The lighting, the balance, the composition --it's all just right, and with no editing whatsoever. I didn't even crop it.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Music Monday
This song came out about the time my father passed away. I'm posting it today in his memory.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Father's Day Conundrum
I know that some of you might know a bit about my past, but for those of you who don't know, Cody was born in Italy, while I was in the Navy. The last time I saw his father was the day before he was born.
I met him while we were both stationed there. Just before we were married, he got transferred back Stateside. I'd wanted to postpone the wedding until we could be together for good, but I let him talk me out of it. He told me it was just a temporary transfer, that he'd be back in 8-12 weeks. We went ahead and got married as planned, and after a brief honeymoon, I went back to Italy.
Time passed, and I began asking him when he would be back, and he's always have an excuse. A few more weeks, he kept telling me. Finally, July came, and he still wasn't back. It had been more than 6 months by then. I asked one more time when he was supposed to be coming back, and he began yelling at me, telling me he wasn't coming back, that it had been a permanent transfer and that I had known that.
So that's why I was pregnant, in Italy, and alone. A week before Cody was born, he flew over to where I was stationed. I thought he was coming to be there when his son was born, but really he came to tell me he wanted a divorce. He'd just gotten married too young, he said. He didn't like married life, he said. He wasn't ready for the responsibility of being a father. He didn't think he could afford to support us, so he was leaving us on our own. "But don't feel bad, you didn't do anything wrong," he said.
That Tuesday, the day before he left, I went into labor. I asked him if he would stay one more day, and he refused, lying to me again. He'd said that the plane tickets he bought were non refundable, which they weren't. I know. I bought them for him. I knew he was lying, but I didn't argue. The next morning, he left, and Cody was born that night.
Cody has never met his father. When he left, he made it clear that he wanted nothing more to do with either of us. He even agreed to have his parental rights terminated. In fact, for the first year or so, he wouldn't even acknowledge that Cody was his. I haven't seen him in nearly 16 years. I haven't heard from him at all in 15 years.
Last week, out of the blue, without provocation, I got a facebook friend request from him.
Now that Cody is nearly grown, now that the expense and responsibility of raising him is nearly done, he suddenly wants to swoop back in and be wonder dad. It kinda makes me mad. He wasn't there when the boy had chickenpox or the flu. He wasn't there when the boy came home from school in tears from being bullied so much. He wasn't there when I was struggling to feed and clothe the boy. He wasn't there when the boy was getting in trouble in school, and getting kicked off the bus. He wasn't there to stop the boy's nosebleeds, or rush him to the emergency room after a bee sting. He wasn't there to teach the boy to hit a baseball, or throw a football, or do a layup. He wasn't there to take the boy fishing, or to kill his first deer.
He wasn't there to take the burden of financial responsibility so I could be there for the boy.
Now that the task of raising the boy is close to being done, now that the boy is only 2 1/2 years away from being an adult, he wants to suddenly show up and be a dad. Ok, I can deal with that. I may not like it, but I can deal with it.
But why is he sending ME a friend request?
I met him while we were both stationed there. Just before we were married, he got transferred back Stateside. I'd wanted to postpone the wedding until we could be together for good, but I let him talk me out of it. He told me it was just a temporary transfer, that he'd be back in 8-12 weeks. We went ahead and got married as planned, and after a brief honeymoon, I went back to Italy.
Time passed, and I began asking him when he would be back, and he's always have an excuse. A few more weeks, he kept telling me. Finally, July came, and he still wasn't back. It had been more than 6 months by then. I asked one more time when he was supposed to be coming back, and he began yelling at me, telling me he wasn't coming back, that it had been a permanent transfer and that I had known that.
So that's why I was pregnant, in Italy, and alone. A week before Cody was born, he flew over to where I was stationed. I thought he was coming to be there when his son was born, but really he came to tell me he wanted a divorce. He'd just gotten married too young, he said. He didn't like married life, he said. He wasn't ready for the responsibility of being a father. He didn't think he could afford to support us, so he was leaving us on our own. "But don't feel bad, you didn't do anything wrong," he said.
That Tuesday, the day before he left, I went into labor. I asked him if he would stay one more day, and he refused, lying to me again. He'd said that the plane tickets he bought were non refundable, which they weren't. I know. I bought them for him. I knew he was lying, but I didn't argue. The next morning, he left, and Cody was born that night.
Cody has never met his father. When he left, he made it clear that he wanted nothing more to do with either of us. He even agreed to have his parental rights terminated. In fact, for the first year or so, he wouldn't even acknowledge that Cody was his. I haven't seen him in nearly 16 years. I haven't heard from him at all in 15 years.
Last week, out of the blue, without provocation, I got a facebook friend request from him.
Now that Cody is nearly grown, now that the expense and responsibility of raising him is nearly done, he suddenly wants to swoop back in and be wonder dad. It kinda makes me mad. He wasn't there when the boy had chickenpox or the flu. He wasn't there when the boy came home from school in tears from being bullied so much. He wasn't there when I was struggling to feed and clothe the boy. He wasn't there when the boy was getting in trouble in school, and getting kicked off the bus. He wasn't there to stop the boy's nosebleeds, or rush him to the emergency room after a bee sting. He wasn't there to teach the boy to hit a baseball, or throw a football, or do a layup. He wasn't there to take the boy fishing, or to kill his first deer.
He wasn't there to take the burden of financial responsibility so I could be there for the boy.
Now that the task of raising the boy is close to being done, now that the boy is only 2 1/2 years away from being an adult, he wants to suddenly show up and be a dad. Ok, I can deal with that. I may not like it, but I can deal with it.
But why is he sending ME a friend request?
Friday, June 19, 2009
Friday Funny
Back when I was in college, I hung around with a rather creative crowd. How creative? Well, let me tell you.
One Saturday, the church that many of my friends attended was having a picnic for the college and career group. Naturally, I was also invited to attend. The picnic was going to be at a park by a lake. When we got there, we found that in addition to food, they had also set up several games--croquet, horseshoes, badminton and the like. We were walking around playing different games, and Tina and Edna decided they wanted to play badminton. There was just one problem. Whoever had set the net up had tied it between two trees so that it ran parallel to the lake shore. They said it was the only place to tie it. So while they were playing, every time they hit the birdie, one of them was hitting it straight toward the lake. Add to that the fact that it was a rather blustery day, and well, you can get the idea. After more than one trip wading into the lake to retrieve the shuttlecock, Tina and Edna moved their game to an open area a bit farther from the lake. They were batting the birdie back and forth, but it just wasn't the same. Edna said, "We need a net."
"I'll be your net!" cried Bill, and he ran out and stood between them with his arms outstretched. Myself, Greg, and a few more people immediately joined him, and we stood in a line with our arms on each others' shoulders. Being the net. OK, that works. Edna and Tina resumed playing. Those of us who were being the net -- standing there in a line, our hands on each others' shoulders--well, the temptation was simply too great to resist. We began dancing.
Edna and Tina never batted an eye. Never missed a beat. They continued their game as serious as could be, as if it were the most natural thing in the world to be playing badminton over a line of people
doing the can-can.
(I searched all over for an animated smiley or gif of the can can, but didn't find one. If you happen to know where one is, please point me in that direction.)
One Saturday, the church that many of my friends attended was having a picnic for the college and career group. Naturally, I was also invited to attend. The picnic was going to be at a park by a lake. When we got there, we found that in addition to food, they had also set up several games--croquet, horseshoes, badminton and the like. We were walking around playing different games, and Tina and Edna decided they wanted to play badminton. There was just one problem. Whoever had set the net up had tied it between two trees so that it ran parallel to the lake shore. They said it was the only place to tie it. So while they were playing, every time they hit the birdie, one of them was hitting it straight toward the lake. Add to that the fact that it was a rather blustery day, and well, you can get the idea. After more than one trip wading into the lake to retrieve the shuttlecock, Tina and Edna moved their game to an open area a bit farther from the lake. They were batting the birdie back and forth, but it just wasn't the same. Edna said, "We need a net."
"I'll be your net!" cried Bill, and he ran out and stood between them with his arms outstretched. Myself, Greg, and a few more people immediately joined him, and we stood in a line with our arms on each others' shoulders. Being the net. OK, that works. Edna and Tina resumed playing. Those of us who were being the net -- standing there in a line, our hands on each others' shoulders--well, the temptation was simply too great to resist. We began dancing.
Edna and Tina never batted an eye. Never missed a beat. They continued their game as serious as could be, as if it were the most natural thing in the world to be playing badminton over a line of people
doing the can-can.
(I searched all over for an animated smiley or gif of the can can, but didn't find one. If you happen to know where one is, please point me in that direction.)
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Katie
You know that they are getting older, yet you manage to deny it to yourself. You know they won't be around forever, but somehow you manage to pretend that that day will never come when they won't be there with you. They are our pets.
Katie is 13 years old. She's always been in good health. It's easy to deny that she is getting old. But here lately, more and more signs of age have been creeping in -- and not just the white around her muzzle. I call her, and she doesn't hear me. She walks out in front of a truck because she doesn't see it. She has stopped chasing cars -- the one vice I could never break her of. She's more content now to just lay around sleeping, though she will still go for my walks with me. I just have to leash her on the road now, because she can't hear or see the cars coming.
Today when I got home from work, she got confused as to which direction the door opened. She was behind the door, with her nose pressed against the crack between the door and the frame, waiting for me to open it so she could go out. She didn't know the door was already open. She didn't see me come in until I touched her.
My time with her is getting short. I know it, but I don't want to know it. Soon --sooner than I would have wished --I will have to make a decision about her. It may be this year. It may be next year. But it will come, and I'm dreading it already.
Hang in there, old girl. I'm not ready to let you go.
Not just yet.
Katie is 13 years old. She's always been in good health. It's easy to deny that she is getting old. But here lately, more and more signs of age have been creeping in -- and not just the white around her muzzle. I call her, and she doesn't hear me. She walks out in front of a truck because she doesn't see it. She has stopped chasing cars -- the one vice I could never break her of. She's more content now to just lay around sleeping, though she will still go for my walks with me. I just have to leash her on the road now, because she can't hear or see the cars coming.
Today when I got home from work, she got confused as to which direction the door opened. She was behind the door, with her nose pressed against the crack between the door and the frame, waiting for me to open it so she could go out. She didn't know the door was already open. She didn't see me come in until I touched her.
My time with her is getting short. I know it, but I don't want to know it. Soon --sooner than I would have wished --I will have to make a decision about her. It may be this year. It may be next year. But it will come, and I'm dreading it already.
Hang in there, old girl. I'm not ready to let you go.
Not just yet.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Whiskers and WIPs
Time for my weekly WIP update.
1. The Friendship Blankie: I got a few more squares knit, but am quickly running out of yarn.
2. Mystery Shawl: I'm 10 rows into clue 3. The rows are getting so long now, it's hard to find time to sit down and do them.
3. Zokni sock: I was feeling a bit of knitter's ennui, so I picked up the sock and knit a pattern repeat. Still have a long way to go, though because I've got feet like banana boats.
Whiskers On Wednesday
This way to my food bowl. C'mon, Mama, this way. You can make it. Come on...
1. The Friendship Blankie: I got a few more squares knit, but am quickly running out of yarn.
2. Mystery Shawl: I'm 10 rows into clue 3. The rows are getting so long now, it's hard to find time to sit down and do them.
3. Zokni sock: I was feeling a bit of knitter's ennui, so I picked up the sock and knit a pattern repeat. Still have a long way to go, though because I've got feet like banana boats.
Whiskers On Wednesday
This way to my food bowl. C'mon, Mama, this way. You can make it. Come on...
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
My Past Life
Now, we know there is no such thing as reincarnation, but this link will give you what your past life would have been if there were such a thing. Here is mine:
Your past life diagnosis: I don't know how you feel about it, but you were female in your last earthly incarnation.You were born somewhere in the territory of modern Yukon around the year 1725. Your profession was that of a leader, major or captain.
Your brief psychological profile in your past life:
Timid, constrained, quiet person. You had creative talents, which waited until this life to be liberated. Sometimes your environment considered you strange.
The lesson that your last past life brought to your present incarnation:
It always seemed to you that your perceptions of the world are somewhat different. Your lesson is to trust your intuition as your best guide in your present life.
Do you remember now?
That sounds a lot like my current life! Of course, the flaw in that system is that everyone who was born on the same date will have the exact same "past life" analysis.
`````````
Greg Ellis has signed with the Oakland Raiders, where he will move back to defensive end. I'm happy for him. That's what he wanted all along. He was never really comfortable playing linebacker. We will get to see him again. The Cowboys play the Raiders twice this year --their first preseason game, then a regular season game on Thanksgiving.
````
I signed up for Twitter. I'm FMFBecky over there. I still don't quite get it. Is anyone really interested that I'm eating cheerios? I really signed up to follow Derek Eagleton's Mini -Camp updates. Yeah. Really, I did.
Your past life diagnosis: I don't know how you feel about it, but you were female in your last earthly incarnation.You were born somewhere in the territory of modern Yukon around the year 1725. Your profession was that of a leader, major or captain.
Your brief psychological profile in your past life:
Timid, constrained, quiet person. You had creative talents, which waited until this life to be liberated. Sometimes your environment considered you strange.
The lesson that your last past life brought to your present incarnation:
It always seemed to you that your perceptions of the world are somewhat different. Your lesson is to trust your intuition as your best guide in your present life.
Do you remember now?
That sounds a lot like my current life! Of course, the flaw in that system is that everyone who was born on the same date will have the exact same "past life" analysis.
`````````
Greg Ellis has signed with the Oakland Raiders, where he will move back to defensive end. I'm happy for him. That's what he wanted all along. He was never really comfortable playing linebacker. We will get to see him again. The Cowboys play the Raiders twice this year --their first preseason game, then a regular season game on Thanksgiving.
````
I signed up for Twitter. I'm FMFBecky over there. I still don't quite get it. Is anyone really interested that I'm eating cheerios? I really signed up to follow Derek Eagleton's Mini -Camp updates. Yeah. Really, I did.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Music Monday
For this week's music, I have a couple of songs from my absolute favorite singer ever, George Strait.
And probably my favorite George Strait song ever:
And probably my favorite George Strait song ever:
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Bags and Books
I'd seen these bags, and liked them, but hadn't gotten one. When I saw them Friday, there were only two left. Since they were only $3, I went ahead and bought one.
Good thing. The blankie was getting a bit too big for the cardboard box I'd had it stuffed in.
Audio Book Review: Emma , by Jane Austen, read by Sibella Denton. Emma is one of Jane Austen's classics, but I had never been able to read the book. However, by listening to it, I was finally able to finish this story. All librivox readers are volunteers, and not professional actors. Mrs. Denton is one of the better readers, though she sometimes reads a bit too fast for my Southern ear, especially on the longer chapters. She starts off with a good pace, but speeds up as the chapter goes on. She also does voices for each of the characters, and her rendition of the chatterbox Miss Bates is tops. There is sometimes a bit of background noise, but this recording is over all a good one. The recording is available either by chapter or by a zip file of the entire book.
Good thing. The blankie was getting a bit too big for the cardboard box I'd had it stuffed in.
Audio Book Review: Emma , by Jane Austen, read by Sibella Denton. Emma is one of Jane Austen's classics, but I had never been able to read the book. However, by listening to it, I was finally able to finish this story. All librivox readers are volunteers, and not professional actors. Mrs. Denton is one of the better readers, though she sometimes reads a bit too fast for my Southern ear, especially on the longer chapters. She starts off with a good pace, but speeds up as the chapter goes on. She also does voices for each of the characters, and her rendition of the chatterbox Miss Bates is tops. There is sometimes a bit of background noise, but this recording is over all a good one. The recording is available either by chapter or by a zip file of the entire book.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
No Power, No Post
It was the weirdest thing. I was in Wal-Mart doing my weekly grocery shopping, when the electricity went out. I had already finished my shopping, and was on my way to the front of the store anyway. I found a register that appeared to be working, since the checker was checking someone out. I got in line, and she told me that she wouldn't be able to check me out. So I went down to another register and checked out with no problem. As soon as I got done, the power came back on.
As I left the store, I could see the storm front moving in from the north--exactly the direction I had to go.
I drove home, hoping I would beat the storm, fearing I wouldn't make it. I was about 2 miles out when the wind hit. It like to have blown me off the road, and I'm not just saying that. I was on the shoulder when I regained control of the car. I haven't seen wind like that since the last hurricane that came through here. It was picking up dirt from the cotton fields and blowing it into the next county. The trees were nearly bent double.
I turned onto my road, struggling to maintain control of my vehicle. There was a tree down across the road. Well, part of a tree. It looked like the top half had just snapped off. I had just enough room to get around it. Limbs, branches, even people's garbage cans were just blowing everywhere. When I got to the house, my garbage can was in the across the street neighbor's front yard. I hurried inside with my groceries, only to find the electricity was out.
It didn't last long. Fifteen or so minutes later and the worst of it was over. But the electricity was still out, and it stayed out until about 1:30 AM. No matter, my MP3 player was fully charged, and I had the rest of Emma to listen to, plus some podcasts I needed to catch up on. They would hold me. I sat by the window and knit and listened to stuff until it was too dark to see.
At one point, I looked out the back window and saw this bank of clouds.
It moved across the sky, looking for all the world like it was rolling the clouds up and taking them with it.
It revealed what had been behind it--an absolutely stunning sunset.
Except for a few clouds near the horizon, the sky was left clear, as if there hadn't just been a deadly storm passing through.
I watched the sunset until it faded into the blackness of night.
Then I went to bed.
As I left the store, I could see the storm front moving in from the north--exactly the direction I had to go.
I drove home, hoping I would beat the storm, fearing I wouldn't make it. I was about 2 miles out when the wind hit. It like to have blown me off the road, and I'm not just saying that. I was on the shoulder when I regained control of the car. I haven't seen wind like that since the last hurricane that came through here. It was picking up dirt from the cotton fields and blowing it into the next county. The trees were nearly bent double.
I turned onto my road, struggling to maintain control of my vehicle. There was a tree down across the road. Well, part of a tree. It looked like the top half had just snapped off. I had just enough room to get around it. Limbs, branches, even people's garbage cans were just blowing everywhere. When I got to the house, my garbage can was in the across the street neighbor's front yard. I hurried inside with my groceries, only to find the electricity was out.
It didn't last long. Fifteen or so minutes later and the worst of it was over. But the electricity was still out, and it stayed out until about 1:30 AM. No matter, my MP3 player was fully charged, and I had the rest of Emma to listen to, plus some podcasts I needed to catch up on. They would hold me. I sat by the window and knit and listened to stuff until it was too dark to see.
At one point, I looked out the back window and saw this bank of clouds.
It moved across the sky, looking for all the world like it was rolling the clouds up and taking them with it.
It revealed what had been behind it--an absolutely stunning sunset.
Except for a few clouds near the horizon, the sky was left clear, as if there hadn't just been a deadly storm passing through.
I watched the sunset until it faded into the blackness of night.
Then I went to bed.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Going To Grandma's
Cody is off again in the morning, this time to spend a week at his grandma's. He's not going to get to stay as long as he did last year, but at least he's getting to go. For a while, there it didn't look like he'd be able to go at all, but things have worked out that he can.
It reminded me, though, of a time back when Cody was little. We were going to Grandma's for Thanksgiving. Cody was really too young to have any concept of time and distance. It is roughly an 8 hour drive from here to there--or it was back then, because we made more stops, Cody being so little and all.
Early that morning, we got into our car and headed out on the road to go to Grandma's. After about 2 hours, we stopped at a rest stop to stretch our legs and so Cody could run off some energy.
"I thought we were going to Grandma's," he said.
"We are," I replied. "I just needed to stretch my legs a bit."
After a few minutes, we got back into the car and drove a couple more hours, then we stopped to eat. "But when are we going to Grandma's," Cody asked.
"We are going to Grandma's, right now." I said. So we ate, got back into our car, and drove a couple more hours. Final stop of the day--Lafayette, LA, to get gas. I filled up the gas tank, used the *ahem* facilities, and we got back into the car.
As I was buckling Cody back into his car seat, he leaned over, put his hand on my arm, and said with all the seriousness a three year old can muster,
"Now, let's go to Grandma's."
.
It reminded me, though, of a time back when Cody was little. We were going to Grandma's for Thanksgiving. Cody was really too young to have any concept of time and distance. It is roughly an 8 hour drive from here to there--or it was back then, because we made more stops, Cody being so little and all.
Early that morning, we got into our car and headed out on the road to go to Grandma's. After about 2 hours, we stopped at a rest stop to stretch our legs and so Cody could run off some energy.
"I thought we were going to Grandma's," he said.
"We are," I replied. "I just needed to stretch my legs a bit."
After a few minutes, we got back into the car and drove a couple more hours, then we stopped to eat. "But when are we going to Grandma's," Cody asked.
"We are going to Grandma's, right now." I said. So we ate, got back into our car, and drove a couple more hours. Final stop of the day--Lafayette, LA, to get gas. I filled up the gas tank, used the *ahem* facilities, and we got back into the car.
As I was buckling Cody back into his car seat, he leaned over, put his hand on my arm, and said with all the seriousness a three year old can muster,
"Now, let's go to Grandma's."
.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Whiskers and WIPs
This working 6 days a week has really cut into my knitting time, but I did get a little bit done on a couple of projects.
1. The Friendship Blankie: I got a few more squares done.
Slowly it's growing. It's almost 1/4th done now. It is 12 squares wide and I want to make it 24 squares long. It's going to take a long time to finish. I think with my first overtime check (which I should get next week), I'm going to buy a couple more of Robyn's starter kits. If I can catch them in stock, that is. They sell out almost as soon as she makes them up.
2. Anniversary Mystery Shawl: I finished clue 2.
There you can see the center panel (on the left) and one section of the pattern. Everyone else is on clue 4. There is one more to go, then the KAL will be done. I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up, even before we started working overtime, so I'm not really worried about it. I just print out the clues as they come, and knit them when I can. I tell you, though, some of them women knit like Superwoman or something. The clues are posted on Saturdays and by Sunday night, they are finished knitting them.
~~Whiskers on Wednesday~~
"Here comes that old lady with the camera again. Maybe if I pretend really hard to be asleep, she'll go away.
Is it working?"
One last thing. I don't normally post political stuff on my blog. Sometimes I think I should start. I'm sure I'd get more traffic that way. (My abyssmal 10 hits per day is almost not worth blogging for. ) But then, I'd have to deal with the raving lunatics who would no doubt troll the place, and I just don't have the disposition for that. Still and all, this one was just too good not to blog about.
You are going to be thin, whether you want to or not! You are going to exercise, whether you want to or not! THE ONE has decreed it. Now, don't get me wrong. I think everyone should try to be as healthy as they can. But it is not the government's place to order us to do so. It is the individual's responsibility, and no one else's business. Besides that, I cannot endeavor to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution that gives the government the authority to dictate what I can and cannot eat and how much I am required to exercise.
I CAN, however, quite easily lay my finger on that article of the Constitution that requires a person to be a natural born citizen of these United States of America to hold the highest office in the land. (Article II Section 1, just in case you were wondering.)
.
1. The Friendship Blankie: I got a few more squares done.
Slowly it's growing. It's almost 1/4th done now. It is 12 squares wide and I want to make it 24 squares long. It's going to take a long time to finish. I think with my first overtime check (which I should get next week), I'm going to buy a couple more of Robyn's starter kits. If I can catch them in stock, that is. They sell out almost as soon as she makes them up.
2. Anniversary Mystery Shawl: I finished clue 2.
There you can see the center panel (on the left) and one section of the pattern. Everyone else is on clue 4. There is one more to go, then the KAL will be done. I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up, even before we started working overtime, so I'm not really worried about it. I just print out the clues as they come, and knit them when I can. I tell you, though, some of them women knit like Superwoman or something. The clues are posted on Saturdays and by Sunday night, they are finished knitting them.~~Whiskers on Wednesday~~
"Here comes that old lady with the camera again. Maybe if I pretend really hard to be asleep, she'll go away.
Is it working?"One last thing. I don't normally post political stuff on my blog. Sometimes I think I should start. I'm sure I'd get more traffic that way. (My abyssmal 10 hits per day is almost not worth blogging for. ) But then, I'd have to deal with the raving lunatics who would no doubt troll the place, and I just don't have the disposition for that. Still and all, this one was just too good not to blog about.
You are going to be thin, whether you want to or not! You are going to exercise, whether you want to or not! THE ONE has decreed it. Now, don't get me wrong. I think everyone should try to be as healthy as they can. But it is not the government's place to order us to do so. It is the individual's responsibility, and no one else's business. Besides that, I cannot endeavor to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution that gives the government the authority to dictate what I can and cannot eat and how much I am required to exercise.
I CAN, however, quite easily lay my finger on that article of the Constitution that requires a person to be a natural born citizen of these United States of America to hold the highest office in the land. (Article II Section 1, just in case you were wondering.)
.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Weird
Ok, this is really weird, seeing David Carradine on Mental just a few short days after his death.
I'm totally blank on what to blog about today*, so here's a photo for you:
This is Sunset, my amelanistic corn snake chowing down.
Oh, and by the way, in order to divert any undue panic, let me just tell you right now: the Cowboys are NOT bringing back Pacman Jones. Really, I wish I knew who keeps starting these kinds of rumors. I'd like to put him into a small room with a rattlesnake. Or maybe DeMarcus Ware. Nah, he'd be safer with the snake.
*Ok, this statement isn't entirely true, but the posts I have in my head are long, and I don't want to type them out right now. I'm just feeling lazy like that today.
I'm totally blank on what to blog about today*, so here's a photo for you:
This is Sunset, my amelanistic corn snake chowing down.
Oh, and by the way, in order to divert any undue panic, let me just tell you right now: the Cowboys are NOT bringing back Pacman Jones. Really, I wish I knew who keeps starting these kinds of rumors. I'd like to put him into a small room with a rattlesnake. Or maybe DeMarcus Ware. Nah, he'd be safer with the snake.
*Ok, this statement isn't entirely true, but the posts I have in my head are long, and I don't want to type them out right now. I'm just feeling lazy like that today.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Music Monday
For your music Monday this week, I thought we'd do something a little different. Unfortunately, these songs didn't have an embed code, so please follow the links:
Welcome To The Jungle
I don't know the name of this song, but I like it
I hope you've enjoyed this break from our regular Music Monday. We'll be back to normal next week.
Welcome To The Jungle
I don't know the name of this song, but I like it
I hope you've enjoyed this break from our regular Music Monday. We'll be back to normal next week.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Really?
I don't ever remember a president with a 0 approval rating, yet there it is in black and white--or red and green. And after less than 6 months in office, at that.
Let's see, in less than 6 months in office he has tripled our national debt (quadrupled it, if you count the interest), more than doubled the unemployment rate, seized control of private companies, insulted our friends, betrayed our allies, bowed to our enemies, kissed up to those who would destroy us, tucked tail and run from obvious acts of aggression, nominated a supreme court justice who has already declared that she will judge not by what the law states, but by who she feels the most sorry for, and basically spent the entire time he's been in office apologizing for our very existence, all without producing the ever elusive long form birth certificate. What's not to approve of?
Let's see, in less than 6 months in office he has tripled our national debt (quadrupled it, if you count the interest), more than doubled the unemployment rate, seized control of private companies, insulted our friends, betrayed our allies, bowed to our enemies, kissed up to those who would destroy us, tucked tail and run from obvious acts of aggression, nominated a supreme court justice who has already declared that she will judge not by what the law states, but by who she feels the most sorry for, and basically spent the entire time he's been in office apologizing for our very existence, all without producing the ever elusive long form birth certificate. What's not to approve of?
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Saturday Sky
I haven't posted one of these in a while, so here ya go.
Cody says to me the other day, "I'm the only guy I know who can do his own laundry." "Good," I reply. "That just puts you one step ahead of everybody else. You'll be the only guy in college who won't be walking around in pink underwear." I suppose we'd better work on folding next.
Cody's version of folding clothes.
Cody says to me the other day, "I'm the only guy I know who can do his own laundry." "Good," I reply. "That just puts you one step ahead of everybody else. You'll be the only guy in college who won't be walking around in pink underwear." I suppose we'd better work on folding next.
Cody's version of folding clothes. Friday, June 05, 2009
Friday Quickie
Overtime! I'm getting to work some overtime finally. I have to be in at 6 in the morning, so this'll be brief.
I did want to mention that the Cowboys have released 11 year veteran Greg Ellis. I'm sorry to see him go. I know he's been asking to be released. I know the team is trying to get younger. Still, I liked Greg. He was a leader on and off the field. Last year, then rookie Orlando Scandrick said that Greg was his "on the field dad". He was like that for a lot of the players. I think they will miss him just for that. I know I'll miss him.
Good luck, Greg, wherever life takes you.
I did want to mention that the Cowboys have released 11 year veteran Greg Ellis. I'm sorry to see him go. I know he's been asking to be released. I know the team is trying to get younger. Still, I liked Greg. He was a leader on and off the field. Last year, then rookie Orlando Scandrick said that Greg was his "on the field dad". He was like that for a lot of the players. I think they will miss him just for that. I know I'll miss him.
Good luck, Greg, wherever life takes you.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Here's The Scoop
Cody'd known about the band trip to Disneyworld for the entire school year. I'd told him to be saving his allowance. I'd remind him regularly how expensive things were at Disneyworld. I also planned on giving him a little more money besides what he'd saved, and he has a credit card in his name--for emergencies only. The night before he left, I was giving him some advice..."Use your cash for meals and such, and only use the credit card for souviners."
"I have no cash," was Cody's response. It was then that I discovered he only had about $5 in change to take with him. After behaving in a way I ought to be ashamed of, I made him withdraw some money from his savings account. Money he thought he was saving for a car. It will be his responsibility to replace it. Friday came, and I got him off on the trip with no further hitches.
That evening I decided I was going to clean his room. Now, his room was an ungodly mess, and I knew it would take several days to finish. The next day, Saturday, I bent over to pick something up from the floor and slipped a disc. But y'all know about that.
Sunday evening, I was piddling around on the computer when my phone rang. It was one of Cody's band directors on the other end. After introducing himself to me, he said, "We have a situation here with Cody, that we need your help with" and my first thought was, 'Oh no, he got stung [by a bee--to which he is deathly allergic] and he doesn't have his Epi-pen with him'. Then Mr. P said, "Well, another girl in the band came up to me and told me" and I thought 'Oh no, he's behaved inappropriately with a little girl'. Mr. P continued "that a man came up to her and asked if she was from Grenada. She'd had her school ID on her and he'd seen it. He asked her if she knew Cody Anglea, and she said she did. He said, 'I'm his real dad and I'm supposed to be meeting him here.'" The girl --bless her--immediately went and found Mr. P and told him about it. Then he called me and told me about it. He begged me to tell him that I knew about it and had just forgotten to tell them, and that it was ok, but I had no idea. He tried to describe the man to me, but I had to tell him, "I haven't seen that man in 15 years. I probably wouldn't know him if he walked right up to me." The conversation went on from there, but really, I was freaking so much I don't remember all that was said. I do remember telling Mr. P that Cody's father did live in that area, and that I didn't have a problem with Cody meeting his father, but my fear was that the father might try to take him. Mr. P said, "That's what I needed to know." He also said that if Cody wanted to meet his dad, then they would arrange a supervised visit, with a couple of the band directors there.
After taking a few minutes to calm myself--ok a lot of minutes--I called Cody and asked him what was going on. He told me that he wanted to meet his dad, but hadn't wanted to tell me, because he was afraid I'd be mad. I emphasized that he wasn't in trouble for wanting to meet his dad, but for the position he'd put his band directors. We talked some more, then after all the band got back to the hotel, Mr. P and the head band director Mr R. called on the speaker phone, and we all talked about it. I emphasized to Cody again that he wasn't in trouble for wanting to meet his dad, but for the position he had put his band directors in. I told him that if he wanted to meet the ex, to call him and arrange a time and a place to meet, then let his band directors know so they could be there with him. He agreed to that, but as it turns out, he never did get to meet him. After he got home, I asked him why, and he said he didn't have the ex's phone number. I couldn't resist a little poke, and said "See, if you'd talked to me about it, I could have made sure you had his number, and had arranged a time and a place to meet."
I also explained to him that the reason he was wrong to do what he did was that when someone wants to abduct a child, one of his favorite tricks is to pick the child up from school or a school function. He said that was pretty much what his band directors had told him, too. I wanted to make sure he understood that he wasn't wrong for wanting to meet his dad, but for not telling anyone about it. I beat that dead horse enough that I hope he got the message.
And that's what happened at Disneyworld.
"I have no cash," was Cody's response. It was then that I discovered he only had about $5 in change to take with him. After behaving in a way I ought to be ashamed of, I made him withdraw some money from his savings account. Money he thought he was saving for a car. It will be his responsibility to replace it. Friday came, and I got him off on the trip with no further hitches.
That evening I decided I was going to clean his room. Now, his room was an ungodly mess, and I knew it would take several days to finish. The next day, Saturday, I bent over to pick something up from the floor and slipped a disc. But y'all know about that.
Sunday evening, I was piddling around on the computer when my phone rang. It was one of Cody's band directors on the other end. After introducing himself to me, he said, "We have a situation here with Cody, that we need your help with" and my first thought was, 'Oh no, he got stung [by a bee--to which he is deathly allergic] and he doesn't have his Epi-pen with him'. Then Mr. P said, "Well, another girl in the band came up to me and told me" and I thought 'Oh no, he's behaved inappropriately with a little girl'. Mr. P continued "that a man came up to her and asked if she was from Grenada. She'd had her school ID on her and he'd seen it. He asked her if she knew Cody Anglea, and she said she did. He said, 'I'm his real dad and I'm supposed to be meeting him here.'" The girl --bless her--immediately went and found Mr. P and told him about it. Then he called me and told me about it. He begged me to tell him that I knew about it and had just forgotten to tell them, and that it was ok, but I had no idea. He tried to describe the man to me, but I had to tell him, "I haven't seen that man in 15 years. I probably wouldn't know him if he walked right up to me." The conversation went on from there, but really, I was freaking so much I don't remember all that was said. I do remember telling Mr. P that Cody's father did live in that area, and that I didn't have a problem with Cody meeting his father, but my fear was that the father might try to take him. Mr. P said, "That's what I needed to know." He also said that if Cody wanted to meet his dad, then they would arrange a supervised visit, with a couple of the band directors there.
After taking a few minutes to calm myself--ok a lot of minutes--I called Cody and asked him what was going on. He told me that he wanted to meet his dad, but hadn't wanted to tell me, because he was afraid I'd be mad. I emphasized that he wasn't in trouble for wanting to meet his dad, but for the position he'd put his band directors. We talked some more, then after all the band got back to the hotel, Mr. P and the head band director Mr R. called on the speaker phone, and we all talked about it. I emphasized to Cody again that he wasn't in trouble for wanting to meet his dad, but for the position he had put his band directors in. I told him that if he wanted to meet the ex, to call him and arrange a time and a place to meet, then let his band directors know so they could be there with him. He agreed to that, but as it turns out, he never did get to meet him. After he got home, I asked him why, and he said he didn't have the ex's phone number. I couldn't resist a little poke, and said "See, if you'd talked to me about it, I could have made sure you had his number, and had arranged a time and a place to meet."
I also explained to him that the reason he was wrong to do what he did was that when someone wants to abduct a child, one of his favorite tricks is to pick the child up from school or a school function. He said that was pretty much what his band directors had told him, too. I wanted to make sure he understood that he wasn't wrong for wanting to meet his dad, but for not telling anyone about it. I beat that dead horse enough that I hope he got the message.
And that's what happened at Disneyworld.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Whiskers and WIPs
Knitting time has been scarce this week, but I have gotten some done. I blame the new laptop. Speaking of, the new laptop keyboard is driving me nuts! It's smaller than what I'm used to, so I keep hitting the wrong keys. My typing was never that great anyway, so it's a pain in the booty. I'll get used to it eventually. Other than that, I'm totally loving the new laptop. So much so that I've hardly knit anything since I got it. Anyway, here is the WIP update for this week.
1. Mystery KAL: Still working on clue 2, even though clue three has been released. I knew probably wouldn't be able to keep up, so I'm not really worried about it. Besides that, the shawl got sacrificed to blankie love.
2. Friendship Blankie: I got another row done. I have enough yarn for maybe one more row.
No other projects got worked on. The blankie has become my obsession, as long as I have yarn for it.
~~Whiskers On Wednesday~~
I thought I'd try something different this week. Squeaky was laying on the back of the love seat staring out the window, so I decided to take the photo from outside. What with the screen, and the reflection in the glass, I kinda like the effect. Squeaky does too.
"I look so artistic!"
Now, I have a favor to ask of you all. My buddy Lou's daughter is having a birthday tomorrow--or today as most of you are reading this--Thursday. Well, Jesse has a really nice blog, but she hardly ever gets comments on it. I know I'm guilty of not leaving comments myself. I have a hard time thinking of stuff to say on the blogs I do comment on. I know that's no excuse, but, it's my story and I'm sticking to it. Anyway, for her birthday, Lou has asked that we flood her blog with comments. So whether you are a long time reader, or you got here through a Google search, pop on over to Skybag and leave her a comment or wish her happy birthday. We'd really appreciate it.
Now, I'm going to try to go get one more row finished on the shawl before bed.
.
1. Mystery KAL: Still working on clue 2, even though clue three has been released. I knew probably wouldn't be able to keep up, so I'm not really worried about it. Besides that, the shawl got sacrificed to blankie love.
2. Friendship Blankie: I got another row done. I have enough yarn for maybe one more row.
No other projects got worked on. The blankie has become my obsession, as long as I have yarn for it.~~Whiskers On Wednesday~~
I thought I'd try something different this week. Squeaky was laying on the back of the love seat staring out the window, so I decided to take the photo from outside. What with the screen, and the reflection in the glass, I kinda like the effect. Squeaky does too.
"I look so artistic!"Now, I have a favor to ask of you all. My buddy Lou's daughter is having a birthday tomorrow--or today as most of you are reading this--Thursday. Well, Jesse has a really nice blog, but she hardly ever gets comments on it. I know I'm guilty of not leaving comments myself. I have a hard time thinking of stuff to say on the blogs I do comment on. I know that's no excuse, but, it's my story and I'm sticking to it. Anyway, for her birthday, Lou has asked that we flood her blog with comments. So whether you are a long time reader, or you got here through a Google search, pop on over to Skybag and leave her a comment or wish her happy birthday. We'd really appreciate it.
Now, I'm going to try to go get one more row finished on the shawl before bed.
.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
A Little Late
I'd intended to do this last month. You see, last month was the 20th anniversary of my joining the Navy. I was going to do a series of posts about that event, posting each one on the anniversary of the day it happened. But between Cody thinking he could go off on a 6 day trip to Disneyworld with $1 and some change in his pocket, the slipped disc and subsequent steroids, and a frantic phone call from Cody's band directors asking, "is Cody supposed to be meeting his real dad here and please tell me this is something you knew about" (I had no idea), well, it just didn't happen. I'm still going to do it, it'll just be a little late.
But first, I'm going to go knit a bit.
But first, I'm going to go knit a bit.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Show Me June
Yes, it is that time again, and I'm wondering where the year has gone. It is June already. Training camp starts next month, then pre-season, and finally football season starts again!
Ok, we start his month's meme with my bedroom calendar, which features my adorable nephew Joshua.
Next up, my kitchen calendar, which features this not so adorable moose.
Then we have my living room calendar, which features someone I wouldn't necessarily call adorable--Keith Zinger, formerly of LSU, now with the Atlanta Falcons.
Finally, my office calendar with the totally adorable Bradie James. But don't tell him I said that. Linebackers don't like to be called adorable.
No matter how adorable they are.
.
Ok, we start his month's meme with my bedroom calendar, which features my adorable nephew Joshua.
Next up, my kitchen calendar, which features this not so adorable moose.
Then we have my living room calendar, which features someone I wouldn't necessarily call adorable--Keith Zinger, formerly of LSU, now with the Atlanta Falcons.
Finally, my office calendar with the totally adorable Bradie James. But don't tell him I said that. Linebackers don't like to be called adorable.
No matter how adorable they are.
.
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